The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-12-01
Corporal Pnc's Comrade.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRlRUEE: ] notice in
yonr issue Of Nov. 3 an article headed Corpl
Pike; Ills Daring Exploits rs Scout and Spy
intended as information 10 Capt. J. w. hink-
ley, Of Sparta, Wis, by ii. G. ODDS, Goth Ohio,
and Major 18th Ohio Mai Olds's information
is incorrect. The writer was a colleague OF
COrpl James Pike, aud knows whereof he
speaks. James Pike was a son Of the old edi'
tor Of the llillsbOro Ohio Democrat, commonly
called Col. Pike. James Tor Corp'D Pike joined
Co. A, 9Th Ohio Cav, at Cincinnati, o., when
the regiment was OrCanl zcd, under the super
vision OF Col. John kcnnett its first Colonel,
n August and September, 1861 In December,
1861, the 4th Ohio Cay. reported 10 Gen. o. Nj.
Mitchell az Bacon Creek, Ky, for duty; and
before Mitchcl's command made forward
movement, Corpl Pike had already been de-
tachod from his company and regiment. lie
went aud came when he pleased, and always
MADE bis report in person 10 Gen. Ormsey
Mcknight Mitchell. Corp1 Pike carried The
standard Of the 4th Ohio Cav onto the cupola
of the Tennessee State Capitol when Nashville
was surrendered TO Gen. Mitchell and the
writer was one Of about Is who accompanied
him on that occasion, while the late Ten.
Forrest could be plainly seen from the Capt.
tol with about 300 cavalry right where
Fort NeClcy was aftcrwArd constructed. The
latter made no attempt, however 10 capture US,
the reason being that Capt Lo0miss battery
was standing on the brink OF the river, on the
Edgcied side; Capt LOOMS being very anXi-
Gus 10 obtain permission from Gen, Mitchell
to commence reducing the town, as LOOMS
termed il "a -- rebel hotbed anyhow"
But Gen. Mitchell stayed those PARROT guns
from belchiug forth destruction TO the Tennes-
see Capital. Copl Pike was probably the most
efficient scout of the entire army by relating
simply facts, and leaving out the soaring inn
aciuatious OF the many fiction writers. The
Fayetteville episode Of which ii. G. Olds
speaks is partly true; that is, Pike stopped the
seven wagons loaded with pork on their way TO
huntsville, Ala, forced the teamsters at the
muz1les OF two nayys TO haul the wagons in
! branch aud FIRE them. The act was complete
! and bold Yankee trick, and one which has
/ scarcely been eKceled in the line Of fiction, as
! there were seven teamstcrs and four guards,
making III men that Pike captured on this
occasion. James Pike never served with the
! Army OF the Tennessee, but after leaving the
Cavalry Corps headquarters reported TO Gen.
/ ROsecrGns, where the writer was called for by
| him pike TO accompany him.
OF his many sneak expeditions, as they may
! be properly termed. ] was his companion in
several trips made 10y him TO different parts of
/ the late so-cailed Coniederacy. Pike was taken
/ prisoner twice, and would no doubt have
stretched hemp; one instance being in 1862,
when lie WAS captured by the Texas Rangers,
4 had il not been that small party Of our men
/ ldu EoADleu up TIE ls4tuAChaili- Nolontl ol thc
/ Isl Ia. Cav, whom we exchanged for Pike, with
out waiting for orders from any general officer.
The last time Pike WAS taken prisoner was by
the Confederate pickcts in Nickojack Gap;
but he was Ictaken by some Of our cavalry inn
mcdiatcly after, aud in fact before the Confed-
crate reserve Pickets had started TO take him
/ 10 Dalton. The writer would like 10 see the
old comrades cOAGne themselves TO facts and
moi give us great buncombe stories; ficts are
sufficiently thrilling.
Jim Pike used 10 carry a Henry rife, hut
/ found the Spencer more efficient (which gun he
resiglted Cor himself MS be also did one for your
humble servant; and he was the most deadly
maIlsman at a human figure / ever met. Gen.
! George III. Thomas remarked OF James Pike,
after Chickamauga, that he did not doubt but
| Pike had LAID out . 10 80 OF the enemy during
the fight on Sunday. The writer had the for
tune, il il may be called such, to be with Pike
aud near him the greater part Of that lively
Sunday, and is now living in hopes that all the
men he shot during that late unpleasantness
are living and doing well-HENRY w. DICK.
MAN, Go. H. 4th Ohio Cav, Fort Wayne, Ind.